Early Identification of Salt Tolerant Foxtail Millet (Setaria Italica L. Beauv)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the salt tolerance level of foxtail millet accessions. Salinity tolerance of 10 foxtail millet accessions was determined by a rapid screening method at 7-days-old seedlings and at 3-weeks-old seedlings. Based on the root length and relative seed germination of the 7 days-old-seedlings, and based on the root growth and plasma membrane integrity of the root tip under salinity at the seedling stage, ICERI-5 and ICERI-6 accessions were identified as tolerant accessions, while ICERI-10 were identified as sensitive accessions. Accessions with tolerance to salinity are valuable genetic materials for further crop improvement program.